Compartment device



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July 9 1l935 H. s. FRANK COMPARTMENT DEVI CE Filed Jan. 8, v1954 Patented July 9, 1935 #usm-.riso STATES PATENT orrrcl;

A COMPARTMENT DEVICE Harry S.Frank, New York, N. Y.

fAppIcationJanuaryS, 1934, Serial No. 705,704

Claims. (Cl. 229-15) rThis inventionA relates to compartment forming devices,.andits'main objects are to provide a simple, relatively. inexpensive, easily connectible structure, adapted to either Vdivide into or form compartments of Yexisting drawers, shelves, closets, etc. or to serve itself asa receptacle, which maybe `pre-fabricated andeasily shipped' and stored; in its collapsed state, and the process of. making and .assembling it.

Another objectV o'f this invention is to provide, forfthepurpose of facilitating quantity produc- Vtion,.standardized .stripsof material, equipped withuniformly arranged V.or evenly 'distributed fastener receiving means, which strips maybe fabricated .in anylength .and subsequently cut to .desiredsizesso as tolform either marginale-r side members, or .partition members.

Another object of my invention is to so finish or cover the interior or to-be-exposed surfaces of the 'devioeVas to; obscure the connections betweenfandthe means of connecting the different arts. pAnotherI object of this.l invention is to so constructthefpre-fabricatedparts oi my device as -to facilitate atheninsertion or vplacement of the assembled article wherever it is tobe used. .Another oftheobjects of thisinvention resides inproducing standardized fasteningmeans applicable ato anyof Athe strip-formed parts from which marginal for .partition membersv are made.

The foregoing and a great many further objects of Iany invention .will become more fully .apparentifrcm :the followingdescripti'on of the accompanying drawing, fforming .part .of my disclosure, whichdrawing is primarily intended to elucidate ythe-principle '.of my invention, not, howevcrsdesigned Atoilimit the same to the actual structure shown, 'and `in which:

5Eig.1;is'.a 'perspectiveiillustration of my asvsem'bledfdevicefinfgo'ne otthemanyr possible, forms, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken onlines Q--f-Zrnf-Elig, P1,

f3 fis ifa crossfsectional :view taken I on lines v3---53 of i'lig. Cf1, Y

fFi'ggiifillustrates several elementsof-the corner `fasteningvmeans Vemployedin vmydevice,

fFi'g. 5is=anzelevationfof aportionof apartition member, one parto'f :its lfront section being leftsfo",

ASligmfis :wright-:hand fend View thereof, iFigfH is Aaftop lview of ffmy partition. member, its hinge-:connection `at :the upper edge ibeing parltiavlly brolren om rand l'igffis aiparstial cross-sectional :viewpsimilarto that shown in Fig. 2,'but of a: modiedconstruction.

VReferring Vnow specifically to the drawing, numeral i0 denotes a base, back or bottom of my device, depending upon its. desired application. Hinged to the'edges of thebase atl I -in any convenient mannerv are marginal or side members. l2, while a plurality of partition members of-.various sizes and arrangement `are -locatedwithin said side or marginal members.

`In Fig. 1 is illustrated, -VforeXp-lanatoryfpurposesl only, a suitable arrangementforvanfexisting drawer, in which I employtwo throughepartition members I3 andl, dividing the structure into three main compartments, which latter, are again sub-divided into smaller units. In thefront main compartment two partitions-landflsare shown, the 4middle main compartment is. subdivided by partitions Il and |8,and the rear compartment possesses three partitionsfvI-Si dividingfit into four small compartments.

The basic material employed inthe manufacture of the marginal or side members and ofthe partition members consists oi strips-of uniform width, provided with evenly spaced fastenereattaching or receivingmeans, such as the slots indicated at 20, arranged intwo or more parallel'rows. The strip material --may be fabricated 7in -any length and cut to desired sizes. :Anyfsuitable Inaterialmay be employed such'as cardboard -ber,

laminated '-wood, bakelite, sheet -metal .or any other sheeting applicable for similar manufacture.

Similarly, Vthey base material may be y.prepared from suitable sheets and perforated for 'receiving desired fastening means. Suchperforations-.a indicated atZ! and are shown to be infthe shape of crosses, although `anyother design suitablefor the work may be employed. This-applies equally to the perforations providedinthe side and partition material. l

In Figs. 2 and 3 typicalfcross sections ofthe marginal members l2 are illustrated, which are preferably made of a singleplyof material. At the upper edge of these side membersI provide a bead 22, intended to serve as spacer for the purpose of preventing the fastening means, (holding the side members together'at their corners and other fastening means whereby the `partition members are attached Atothe sides) from interfering with the-insertion of Ethe vdevice into'the ydrawer andfromldamaging the inner drawersurfaces. Y l

For a similar purpose the marginal `members may be made of` adouble ply, 1as1indicatedlinthe modied.'form.iof..Fig-3, Whereinsteadiof "bea'd;.22

and outer flap 22 is hinged at 23 to marginal member I2. This flap is intended to cover the fastening means completely and to facilitate the insertion of the device into a drawer. However, this flap may also serve for finishing the exterior of the sides so that the device may be used as an independent container.

The construction of the partition members preferably consists of two adjacent plies of strips hinged together at their upper edges. A typical arrangement is illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7 consisting of strips 24 and 25, both provided with the aforesaid perforations 20, and hinged together at their upper edges, as indicated at 26.

The assembly of the different parts lof my device is accomplished by means of suitable fastening means, such as illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The marginal or side members are united at their corners by means of narrow strips 21 provided with a pair of slots 28 and an end slot 29 (see Figfi). Yoke-shaped elements 30 are inserted with their prongs 3| through the two end slots 20 of the marginal members I2. One of the elements engages with its prongs slots 28 of strip 21 (see Fig. 3), while the corresponding element engages attaching plate 32 which is also provided with `slots 33 adapted to receive prongs 3| of that corresponding element. Between slots 33 of the plate, a lip 34 is pressed out and is adapted to engage slot 29 of strip 21. Prongs or projections 3|, after having passed through sheets I2 and the apertures 28 and 32 ofthe strip and. Plate, respectively, are bent down, thus locking the two last mentioned elements in place. By bending strip 21 on bending line 35 (Fig. 4) and swinging it about the corner-forming edges of the abutting ends of two members I 2, slot 29 of strip 21 is slipped over lip 34 which is then bent over and holds strip 21 in place. In this manner all four corners of the device are held together at top and bottom and form substantial uniting means and reinforcements, which however may be disconnected whenever desired.

The method of attaching and holding the partition members in place is somewhat different. Yokes 30,1similar to elements 30, are employed. Their prongs 3 I are passed through perforations 20 of the partition members from Without to Within, as clearly seen in Figures 6 and '1, and engage end-attaching elements 36, which are provided with slots 31, corresponding in arrangement and distance from one another to that of slots 20 in strips I2'. The body portions of elements 36 are relatively broad and terminate in outer reduced attaching tongs 38. The latter are intended to pass through any one of the slots or perforations 20 of either the wall or marginal members, or of other partition members, and. they are preferably so arranged that always two tongs of two adjacent plies may be passed through the perforations together and then bent over, as may be clearly observed at the front and right hand side walls in Fig. 1. Y

Where long partitions are employed, such as main partitions I3 and I4, I preferably secure them at one or more places to the base member, as illustrated in the middle compartment at A. The prongs 3| of fastener element 30 are passed through perforations provided in one of the partition plies and through slots 31 of an endattaching element 36, and are bent over in the usual way. The tong of element 38 is passed through one ofthe cross-perforations in the base and fastened by likewise bending it over.

Assembly Operation In inter-connecting the shorter partitions with the main partitions, I proceed in a certain manner. Assuming that after fastening two of the marginal members in place, say the front and left-hand members, I now attach partitions I5 and I6 to the front member. Then I secure these partitions to the front flap of main partition I3 by first lifting up the rear flap. Now partitions I1 and I 8 are secured to the'still elevated or partially opened rear flap of main partition I3. Now partitions I1 and I8 are secured to the front flap of main partition I4, and to its rear flap short partitions I9 are attached. Both flaps of all short partitions I5, I6, I1, I8 and I9 are held against one another due to the fact that always both tongs lof two adjacent attaching elements 36 are slipped through and secured to one of the slots 20 of either the marginal members or the flaps of the long partitions.

After attachment of all short partitions to the mainy partitions in the manner outlined above, the apsof the main partitions are brought together and their end-attaching means are aligned so as to register with their intended slots in the marginal members. The adjacent tongs of the fastening elements at one end of the long partitions are then slipped first through the slots of one of the marginal members, say the left-hand member, and bent over. Now the prongs of short partitions I9 are secured to the rear marginal member, and finally the right hand prongsy of the long or main partitions are fastened tothe right-hand marginal member.

When all partitions are thus assembled and the main partitions secured in places to the base, as at A, the corner-forming fastening means of theA marginal members are attached, and the device is ready for use.

It will be observed from the drawing that all exposed surfaces of the base, the marginal and partition members are finished or covered to present a pleasing appearance. Such finish is applied after the attachment of all fastening elements, particularly the yoke-shaped members 3I| or 3G. Thel finish may be in the form of lacquer, paint, varnish or a covering material such as leather, cloth, paper and the like, and if covering material is used, it serves also in forming connections between two strips in the manner shown m Figs. 6 and 8.

When finishing or covering material is used, it is so attached to the future-to-be-exposed surfaces that perforations 20 may be easily discerned and an' incision made in the material for facilitating the insertions of attaching prongs 38 of the partitions. In the drawing the covering material is indicated at C, and I found it advantageous to employ imitation sude for this purpose, altho any other finish mayl prove just as satisfactory.

In developing the article, I had in mind the foremost prerequisite of success as to manufacture and salability, that is inexpensiveness, simplicity of production, ability of pre-fabrication, simplicity of assembly and capability of shipping and storing the article in a knocked-down, spacesaving manner. Accordingly, the material employed may be of an inexpensive nature, requiring very little handling to provide it with the necessary perforations, fastening means and finishing material. The marginal and partition members may be pre-fabricated, as well asgfthe base, shipped and stored flat, and cut to desired sizes and assembled at its place of immediate future use.

These advantages make it possible for the retailer to ll any specic order immediately without requiring the help of the manufacturer. If, for instance, a drawer is to be equipped with my device, all that is required of the customer is to give the inside dimensions of the drawer and to indicate his wishes as to the approximate arrangement of the compartments. The same procedure applies to shelves, closets or other spaces intended to be sub-divided.

From the foregoing it becomes quite evident that my invention has universal uses and may be produced in large quantities and in different sizes, since its process of manufacture remains the same. It is obvious also that it may be produced from various materials best suited for specic uses and that the fastening meansV and their attachment may have Yto be valtered in order to withstand use and abuse. Consequently, while I have shown specific forms of my invention, it is understood that they are not intended to limit my invention to the actual illustrations and details and that changes and improvements may be incorporated therein without departing from its broad scope, as defined in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A compartment device, comprising in combination, a base member, marginal or side members hingedly connected therewith and provided with uniformly distributed fastener receiving means arranged in doublerrows, corner fastener means in engagement with some of said receiving means of both rows and adapted to unite said marginal members at their corners, a plurality of partition members disposed within said marginal members and provided with two rows of uniformly distributed fastener element receiving means, fastener elements associated with some of these element receiving means of both rows and disposed at the ends of said partition members, and engaging some of the fastener receiving means of both rows of said marginal members and some of the element receiving means of both rows of some of the partition members.

2. A rcollapsible compartment forming device, comprising in combination, a base or bottom member provided with fastener receiving means,

marginal or side members hingedly associated with the edges of said base member, a plurality of uniformly distributed fastener receiving means provided with said marginal members and arranged in two parallel rows, a plurality of partition members adapted to be associated with one another and with said marginal members and said base member, and provided with two corresponding, parallel rows of uniformly distributed fastening-element receiving means, removable and exchangeable, uniform corner fasteners associated in pairs with the ends of said marginal members at said fastener receiving means, a plurality of uniform and exchangeable fastening elements secured in pairs at the ends, and at certain intervals at the bottom edges of said partition members and adapted to engage some partition and marginal members, and the base member, respectively.

3. In a collapsible compartment forming device, as set forth in claim 2, .said marginal members provided with means for rendering said corner fasteners and some of said fastening elements, in engagement with said marginal members, unobstructive and for facilitating the placement of the device wherever intended.

4. In a device of the class described, marginal and partition members adapted to be interconnected with one another, each of said members forming portions of strips provided with uniformly distributed fastener receiving means, said marginal members provided at their surfaces to be exposed to view, with a finish or covering, said partition members comprising a double ply of hinged strips having at their surfaces to be exposed to View an outer finish orcovering, and a plurality of fastening means secured in said receiving means of both kind of members and so arranged as to be obscured by said finish or covering, said fastening means adapted to facilitate connecting said members in forming compartments therefrom.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 4, said fastening means comprising substantially yokeshaped elements adapted to pass through the strip material and perforated attaching elements engaged and held by said former elements.

HARRY S. FRANK. 

